Kinnan retires after email that reads like a hail-Mary pass

Former Manatee High School football head coach Joe Kinnan holds a news conference in Bradenton on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014.

HERALD-TRIBUNE ARCHIVE / THOMAS BENDER

STAFF REPORT

Published: Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 12:36 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 1:57 p.m.

MANATEE COUNTY - Just days before Tuesday’s School Board election, former Manatee High School football coach Joe Kinnan sent out an email to 87 friends, including such power brokers as Bradenton City Councilmen Gene Brown and Gene Gallo, asking them to vote and “make a difference.”

Like Kinnan himself, the email was sharp and to the point: “It’s time for a change and it starts with a new board and then perhaps a new superintendent. I’m not going to tell you how to vote, but I will tell you who I’m voting for and I hope you will follow.”

Kinnan included in his email a ballot with the names Mary Cantrell, Frank Brunner and Rodney Jones circled — the three candidates the legendary coach hoped would help remove Superintendent Rick Mills from his post, which in turn would open the door for Kinnan’s return.

But Brunner lost to incumbent Karen Carpenter in District 4, and Jones lost to Charlie Kennedy in District 2, while Cantrell forced a November runoff with Julie Aranibar.

On Thursday, the Hall of Fame football coach retired from the school district, and it is quite possible his legendary career is over after 29 years. If it is, he will finish with five state titles and 290 career wins. He will also finish as perhaps the best prep football coach in state history.

The retirement was a far cry from 2012, when Kinnan clomped into the team banquet high atop a circus elephant.

Kinnan did not comment Thursday, and his attorneys did not respond to questions.

Based on documents and reporting over the past six months, it appears that Kinnan was waiting to see if a new School Board would come in and oust Mills. A new superintendent could also dismiss an administrative complaint Mills filed against Kinnan in December 2013.

That complaint centered around improprieties in the Manatee High baseball program, which Kinnan oversaw as athletic director. The program was eventually fined more than $13,000 by a state athletic board. Mills recommended Kinnan be suspended for 10 days and demoted him from his position as business manager to an instructional staff position.

As it turned out, Mills dismissed the complaint Thursday after Kinnan — who had been on medical leave since January — personally submitted a one-sentence retirement letter to the district.

The curt resignation letter followed months of quiet negotiations in an effort to iron out an agreement that would allow Kinnan to return to coaching.

A new coach

There were at least three offers by Mills over the past eight months for Kinnan to retire from the district and remain Manatee High’s coach. Kinnan eventually announced in June he was not going to coach this season because of stress, and John Booth was hired as Kinnan’s replacement. Had Kinnan accepted the offers to retire, the administrative complaint would have been dismissed and Kinnan could have returned to the sidelines and coached as a paid volunteer.

Kinnan said Mills told three people — sheriff’s department spokesman Dave Bristow, Gallo and Brown — to see if Kinnan would retire. Kinnan declined and said he wondered if it was “age discrimination.”

Kinnan never had a meeting with Mills at any point, but said district investigator Troy Pumphrey attempted to get him to retire once so Kinnan could use it to motivate his team in the playoffs.

In April, Kinnan said his attorneys recommended he make an offer to the district.

“I said, ‘All right, here’s what I will do,” Kinnan said. “I will retire July 1 and I will coach for free.’ Mills basically said no. Three weeks later, he comes back to my attorney and says, ‘We’ll accept it.’ My attorney said, ‘It’s not on the table now.’ Mills said, ‘I’ll accept it as long as Joe agrees not to sue us.’ I said, ‘No, I can’t agree to that.’ ”

Mills met with Kinnan supporters at least two other times to discuss a way to iron out differences with Kinnan, but to no avail.

Gallo said he met with Mills for lunch at Pier 22 and the administrative complaint was discussed.

“Mills said, ‘I can’t make it go away. The people in this community would eat me up alive unless Joe basically admits to it and retires,’ ” Gallo recalled.

Another meeting took place in May inside the office of Bradenton attorney Ed Mulock. Mills and Dr. Richard Conard of Bradenton attended.

Conard said he was trying to get Mills to bring Kinnan back, and in turn Mills would receive support from his detractors in West Bradenton.

Mills, in one email to Conard, said he could drop the 10-day suspension, but eventually decided against it. Mulock, meanwhile, said he left the meeting thinking there was a deal and Kinnan was coming back. Mulock now calls Mills “a liar” and Conard “a double agent.”

“I felt if I could bring Joe Kinnan and Rick Mills into a meaningful conversation, and at least start a healing process, these factions could come together for the betterment of our school district,” Conard said.

“That didn’t work out too well.”

Mills did not comment Thursday, but issued a statement congratulating Kinnan on a Hall of Fame coaching career.

Tonight, the Manatee Hurricanes travel to Georgia to take on the Ware County High Gators. It will be the first game the Hurricanes have played without Joe Kinnan as their coach since 2004.

EMAIL FROM KINNAN

On Monday, August 25, 2014 6:01 PM, Anne Kinnan wrote:

Dear Friends, I, too apologize if this offends. But I really felt I wanted to forward to each of you my brother's email. I, too taught in this county for 35 years and it is breaking my heart to see the negative and destructive changes in our schools. The children come first. Please consider voting tomorrow for Frank Brunner, Mary Cantrell, and Rodney Jones for School Board. Thank you for your time.

Your friend,

Anne

Begin forwarded message:

From: Joe Kinnan

Date: August 22, 2014 at 2:50:25 PM EDT

Friends,

First of all, let me apologize for sending this political email. If it offends you, please stop reading and delete it.

As you all know, I used to work for the Manatee County School District and loved my job. I was a proud employee and gave 100% every day for 29 years. On June 3rd, thanks to the new leadership within the district, I was non-renewed after arbitrary and unjust attacks on my integrity. Yes, I lost my job that quickly.

That is the reason for this email. There's too much happening at the school district and it's not all good; actually it's very scary. Just read the two links below to see. Or if you have time or know a teacher, talk to them. It's all true, don't let the superintendent fool you with his articles about financial stability and blaming the previous leadership.

It's time for change and it starts with a new board and then perhaps a new superintendent. I'm not going to tell you how to vote or who you should vote for, but I will tell you who I'm voting for and I hope you follow. Please pass this on as it's time to make a difference.

Thanks and make sure you go and vote on the 26th to make a difference.

<p><em>MANATEE COUNTY</em> - Just days before Tuesday's School Board election, former Manatee High School football coach Joe Kinnan sent out an email to 87 friends, including such power brokers as Bradenton City Councilmen Gene Brown and Gene Gallo, asking them to vote and “make a difference.”</p><p>Like Kinnan himself, the email was sharp and to the point: “It's time for a change and it starts with a new board and then perhaps a new superintendent. I'm not going to tell you how to vote, but I will tell you who I'm voting for and I hope you will follow.”</p><p>Kinnan included in his email a ballot with the names Mary Cantrell, Frank Brunner and Rodney Jones circled — the three candidates the legendary coach hoped would help remove Superintendent Rick Mills from his post, which in turn would open the door for Kinnan's return.</p><p>But Brunner lost to incumbent Karen Carpenter in District 4, and Jones lost to Charlie Kennedy in District 2, while Cantrell forced a November runoff with Julie Aranibar.</p><p>On Thursday, the Hall of Fame football coach retired from the school district, and it is quite possible his legendary career is over after 29 years. If it is, he will finish with five state titles and 290 career wins. He will also finish as perhaps the best prep football coach in state history.</p><p>The retirement was a far cry from 2012, when Kinnan clomped into the team banquet high atop a circus elephant.</p><p>Kinnan did not comment Thursday, and his attorneys did not respond to questions.</p><p>Based on documents and reporting over the past six months, it appears that Kinnan was waiting to see if a new School Board would come in and oust Mills. A new superintendent could also dismiss an administrative complaint Mills filed against Kinnan in December 2013.</p><p>That complaint centered around improprieties in the Manatee High baseball program, which Kinnan oversaw as athletic director. The program was eventually fined more than $13,000 by a state athletic board. Mills recommended Kinnan be suspended for 10 days and demoted him from his position as business manager to an instructional staff position.</p><p>As it turned out, Mills dismissed the complaint Thursday after Kinnan — who had been on medical leave since January — personally submitted a one-sentence retirement letter to the district. </p><p>The curt resignation letter followed months of quiet negotiations in an effort to iron out an agreement that would allow Kinnan to return to coaching.</p><p>A new coach</p><p>There were at least three offers by Mills over the past eight months for Kinnan to retire from the district and remain Manatee High's coach. Kinnan eventually announced in June he was not going to coach this season because of stress, and John Booth was hired as Kinnan's replacement. Had Kinnan accepted the offers to retire, the administrative complaint would have been dismissed and Kinnan could have returned to the sidelines and coached as a paid volunteer.</p><p>Kinnan said Mills told three people — sheriff's department spokesman Dave Bristow, Gallo and Brown — to see if Kinnan would retire. Kinnan declined and said he wondered if it was “age discrimination.”</p><p>Kinnan never had a meeting with Mills at any point, but said district investigator Troy Pumphrey attempted to get him to retire once so Kinnan could use it to motivate his team in the playoffs.</p><p>In April, Kinnan said his attorneys recommended he make an offer to the district. </p><p>“I said, 'All right, here's what I will do,” Kinnan said. “I will retire July 1 and I will coach for free.' Mills basically said no. Three weeks later, he comes back to my attorney and says, 'We'll accept it.' My attorney said, 'It's not on the table now.' Mills said, 'I'll accept it as long as Joe agrees not to sue us.' I said, 'No, I can't agree to that.' ”</p><p>Mills met with Kinnan supporters at least two other times to discuss a way to iron out differences with Kinnan, but to no avail.</p><p>Gallo said he met with Mills for lunch at Pier 22 and the administrative complaint was discussed.</p><p>“Mills said, 'I can't make it go away. The people in this community would eat me up alive unless Joe basically admits to it and retires,' ” Gallo recalled.</p><p>Another meeting took place in May inside the office of Bradenton attorney Ed Mulock. Mills and Dr. Richard Conard of Bradenton attended.</p><p>Conard said he was trying to get Mills to bring Kinnan back, and in turn Mills would receive support from his detractors in West Bradenton.</p><p>Mills, in one email to Conard, said he could drop the 10-day suspension, but eventually decided against it. Mulock, meanwhile, said he left the meeting thinking there was a deal and Kinnan was coming back. Mulock now calls Mills “a liar” and Conard “a double agent.”</p><p>“I felt if I could bring Joe Kinnan and Rick Mills into a meaningful conversation, and at least start a healing process, these factions could come together for the betterment of our school district,” Conard said.</p><p>“That didn't work out too well.”</p><p>Mills did not comment Thursday, but issued a statement congratulating Kinnan on a Hall of Fame coaching career.</p><p>Tonight, the Manatee Hurricanes travel to Georgia to take on the Ware County High Gators. It will be the first game the Hurricanes have played without Joe Kinnan as their coach since 2004.</p><h3>EMAIL FROM KINNAN</h3>
<p><b>On Monday, August 25, 2014 6:01 PM, Anne Kinnan <ateaches33@gmail.com> wrote:</b></p><p>Dear Friends, I, too apologize if this offends. But I really felt I wanted to forward to each of you my brother's email. I, too taught in this county for 35 years and it is breaking my heart to see the negative and destructive changes in our schools. The children come first. Please consider voting tomorrow for Frank Brunner, Mary Cantrell, and Rodney Jones for School Board. Thank you for your time. </p><p>Your friend,</p><p>Anne</p><p>Begin forwarded message:</p><p>From: Joe Kinnan <jfk21@yahoo.com></p><p>Date: August 22, 2014 at 2:50:25 PM EDT</p><p>Friends,</p><p> </p><p>First of all, let me apologize for sending this political email. If it offends you, please stop reading and delete it.</p><p> </p><p>As you all know, I used to work for the Manatee County School District and loved my job. I was a proud employee and gave 100% every day for 29 years. On June 3rd, thanks to the new leadership within the district, I was non-renewed after arbitrary and unjust attacks on my integrity. Yes, I lost my job that quickly. </p><p> </p><p>That is the reason for this email. There's too much happening at the school district and it's not all good; actually it's very scary. Just read the two links below to see. Or if you have time or know a teacher, talk to them. It's all true, don't let the superintendent fool you with his articles about financial stability and blaming the previous leadership.</p><p> </p><p>http://www.bradenton.com/2014/08/01/5280198/retired-principal-says-all-is.html</p><p>http://www.bradenton.com/2014/08/16/5306353/community-group-advocates-for.html?sp=/99/100/&ihp=1</p><p> </p><p>It's time for change and it starts with a new board and then perhaps a new superintendent. I'm not going to tell you how to vote or who you should vote for, but I will tell you who I'm voting for and I hope you follow. Please pass this on as it's time to make a difference.</p><p> </p><p>Thanks and make sure you go and vote on the 26th to make a difference.</p><p> </p><p>Your friend.....Joe Kinnan</p>